Contemporary forms of democracy suffer from ethical theories that try to include too much. This series of podcasts concludes by focusing on John Stuart Mill's view of liberty that leads to a minimal view of ethics in a democracy. Although all human individuals and all human societies that seek to be moral must follow a single universal moral principle, most people try to manifest many other values in their lives. Economic, aesthetic, religious, and cognitive values all play an important role in human life, but it is a mistake to seek a utopia that incorporates all values in a single society. Mill, following Plato and Kant, urges us to reduce moral demands to what is truly mandatory and beyond that to give people the freedom to create their lives according their own best judgment. The value of peace serves as a final example of a value that can only be achieved by political means that are simultaneously faithful to the universal moral law.

This podcast includes excerpts from philosophical texts and performances published by Agora Publications. Please visit the Agora Website to view descriptions and samples of the complete works.